Question Got a HDD that won't initialize, and has no visible space?

[Dagoth-ur]

Hello everyone, I hope someone will be able to help me find out if I've bought a broken HDD.
Short of it is I bought a HDD, it wouldn't show in 'my computer' yet the docking station appears fine. I can't initialize or do much with it.

I'll add some images for context with a breakdown (inserting isn't working so will put URLs)

I got 2TB Seagate Desktop HDD:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Kj6OD4HyLn__t-P4SqR5DjRsw54Mv2fq/view?usp=drivesdk

And a Sabrent 3.0 USB SATA HDD docking station:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KeYqcl8PQPacyn5yIDZdhiephJ7o_xx3/view?usp=drivesdk

Computer specs:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Ky8QqG8GXdLYGIzmPBnTU1ivgRTliPBv/view?usp=drivesdk

The found the HDD would not show in my computer. I checked the drivers for the docking station and they appear fine and are updated along with all USB serial bus drivers:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KsgN0GxSb-b_tTk0E_bLWFi8gbwvDs0c/view?usp=drivesdk

How the HDD appears in Disk Manager:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LD36t5kisSdXXuGZkd3o2YSIUuy3rqpn/view?usp=drivesdk

I've tried a bunch of solutions, the hard drive doesn't show unallocated space which I read can be a concern. I'm not able to initialize it because it always returns "device not ready".

I tried cleaning the drive and adding a primary partition in diskpart on administrator ran cmd:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KzVm7DHCe5gchPUNqDo4MKKP7rmtrzV4/view?usp=drivesdk

I changed a USB power setting in power too, and tried removing the CMOS battery for 10 on the laptop - then powered on/off, incase there was a board issue.

I finally tried a recommended program Aomei partition assistant, initialization with that also failed. And changing the disk from MBR to GPT then initializing didn't work. Also rebuilding MBR didn't alleviate the issue:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KsDWVx-Q5WT95tTAztQ72ZIiivv7nm2U/view?usp=drivesdk

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KmXtyfHV8AJq8pwzbbha0P2TBbGHcNqq/view?usp=drivesdk

I don't have another SATA drive to try, but from what I can tell having exhausted these options, the HDD may be damaged. The only other thing I've come across is possibly trying to initialize in Windows 7 instead of 10, I don't have a Win 7 device at the moment but if this is recommended I could try that.

Before returning it I thought it might be worth asking some people in the know if they've seen or are familiar with this issue? I'm not sure what else I could try, the HDD just doesn't want to initialize.

I appreciate any advice, and if anymore info is needed, please let me know.


UPDATE:

Mods may delete this. The HDD disk is still healthy after internal examination (No heat up, no collision or internal issues). But still had it's initial fault with no space visible.

Seller sent a replacement HDD.

 

[CountMike]

Hello everyone, I hope someone will be able to help me find out if I've bought a broken HDD. I'll add some images first for context (inserting isn't working so will put URLs)

I got 2TB Seagate Desktop HDD:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Kj6OD4HyLn__t-P4SqR5DjRsw54Mv2fq/view?usp=drivesdk

And a Sabrent 3.0 USB SATA HDD docking station:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KeYqcl8PQPacyn5yIDZdhiephJ7o_xx3/view?usp=drivesdk

Computer specs:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Ky8QqG8GXdLYGIzmPBnTU1ivgRTliPBv/view?usp=drivesdk

The drivers for the docking station appear fine and are updated along with all USB serial bus drivers:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KsgN0GxSb-b_tTk0E_bLWFi8gbwvDs0c/view?usp=drivesdk

How the HDD appears in Disk Manager:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LD36t5kisSdXXuGZkd3o2YSIUuy3rqpn/view?usp=drivesdk

I've tried a bunch of solutions, the hard drive doesn't show unallocated space which I read can be a concern. I'm not able to initialize it because it always returns "device not ready".

I tried cleaning the drive and adding a primary partition in diskpart on administrator ran cmd:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KzVm7DHCe5gchPUNqDo4MKKP7rmtrzV4/view?usp=drivesdk

I changed a USB power setting in power too, and tried removing the CMOS battery for 10 on the laptop - then powered on/off, incase there was a board issue.

I finally tried a recommended program Aomei partition assistant, initialization with that also failed. And changing the disk from MBR to GPT then initializing didn't work. Also rebuilding MBR didn't alleviate the issue:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KsDWVx-Q5WT95tTAztQ72ZIiivv7nm2U/view?usp=drivesdk

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KmXtyfHV8AJq8pwzbbha0P2TBbGHcNqq/view?usp=drivesdk

I don't have another SATA drive to try, but from what I can tell having exhausted these options, the HDD may be damaged. The only other thing I've come across is possibly trying to initialize on Windows 7 instead of 10, I don't have a Win 7 device at the moment but if this is recommended I could try that.

Before returning it I thought it might be worth asking some people in the know if they've seen or are familiar with this issue? I'm not sure what else I could try, the HDD just doesn't want to initialize.

I appreciate any advice, and if anymore info is needed, please let me know.

Does that docking station have own 12v power supply , plugged in and working ?

 

[Dagoth-ur]

Does that docking station have own 12v power supply , plugged in and working ?

The docking station has it's own 12v DC power adaptor along with the USB 3.0 cable, it's powered on with a blue LED and I hear the disk spin for a few seconds before stopping

 

[USAFRet]

Bought from where?
"New" or used?

 

[Dagoth-ur]

Bought from where?
"New" or used?

The device was purchased in a used condition, it came in a sealed anti static bag. I checked under the lid and the disks seemed immaculate, there was no visible damage to the exterior

 

[USAFRet]

The device was purchased in a used condition, it came in a sealed anti static bag. I checked under the lid and the disks seemed immaculate, there was no visible damage to the exterior

"I checked under the lid and the disks seemed immaculate"

You opened the case and visually inspected the silver platters?

Well, if it wasn't dead before (it probably was), it soon will be.
And that absolutely killed any possibility of a return/refund.

 

[DSzymborski]

Yeah, the hard drive could never be trusted now in any case. The only question is whether the seller will accept a return or not. It was more clear-cut when you hadn't opened it up, but if I were the seller, I would certainly resist once I know you opened it up, which is the absolute worst thing you could have done and extremely reckless. Hard drives are never supposed to be opened outside of a clean room lab.

 

[Dagoth-ur]

"I checked under the lid and the disks seemed immaculate"

You opened the case and visually inspected the silver platters?

Well, if it wasn't dead before (it probably was), it soon will be.
And that absolutely killed any possibility of a return/refund.

It was opened a fraction in a steamed room to avoid any dust infiltration as this can be a delicate process, a last resort as sometimes the disks can be impacted from fall damage. And the board checked, no visible damage. I think it was faulty from the moment received, I'd have to speak to the seller but know that may void the warranty.

 

[Viking2121]

Why would you open a faulty HDD that had a warranty? Just kinda blown your chances of replacing it if they find out, i mean sure in US anyway you got the right to repair, but usually a faulty HDD is not going to show any signs of damage, and HDD being open by the end user is not a good idea and should void warranty no matter how clean you think the room is.

Its usally not worth the time and effort to fix a HDD, if it doesn't work or shows signs of failing, they are usually done, but that is also a chance you take when buying a used HDD and why most here will not recommend it, I use refurbished drives myself and have really good luck with them, my 6TB is going on 5 years old and it was refurbished but do not take them apart if its got a warranty, just replace it or get your money back at that point.

Good luck, might need it!

 

[DSzymborski]

It was opened a fraction in a steamed room to avoid any dust infiltration as this can be a delicate process, a last resort as sometimes the disks can be impacted from fall damage.

Unless you treated the air, there was dust infiltration. "Clean room" does not mean a room you cleaned. Again, this was extremely reckless.

 

[Dagoth-ur]

Unless you treated the air, there was dust infiltration. "Clean room" does not mean a room you cleaned. Again, this was extremely reckless.

An air purifier followed by steam to drop particles to the floor was a last resort to examine internally, it hasn't overheated which suggests it may not be compromised (a HDD has a recirculation filter to remove particles or oils/metals - if they get under a reader it'll quickly overheat). After some more research though it was a risky move probably not worth doing as not a lab environment, I'll have to see if it was compromised or not. If anything it didn't cost much and I'm not sure the seller would've accepted it back unopened as their page suggested no returns. I'll update how the drive fairs and if any remedy was found.

 

[Ralston18]

@Dagoth-ur

FYI:

https://www.futurevisiononline.org/Recovery/Clean1.html

https://www.atarimagazines.com/v5n6/InsideHardDisk.html

[Note: Just for the images: not a company/product recommendation or endorsement.]

 

[johnbl]

my first assumption would be a the docking station issue.
I would first start cmd.exe as an admin, then run
powercfg.exe /energy and take a look at the report.

I would go into windows control panel find the option to set the system into high performance mode, reboot and retest. (work around for various low link power state bugs)

then I would look for a firmware update to the docking station.
(I would be looking for a hub that does not understand the new low power states, fix would be firmware update or driver update)

workaround would be to go into windows control panel device manager, find the device, right mouse click to bring up properties, find the power management tab, then unclick checkbox.

still could be the drive or data cable connection/cable. Not clear.

note; you can tell if a HDD drive is actually spinning if you move it while it is powered on. The disks rotation will act as a gyroscope and resist the movement of the drive. You can feel this
note: in the old days I guess I would also look for write protect jumpers on the drive.

note 2: looks like these drives have their own standby timer. IE if it does not detect activity and the timer goes off the drive will park the heads and tell the disk motor to stop rotating. (this would be independent of the windows power setting)

docs:
idle and standby timers:
Each time the drive performs an active function (read, write or seek), the standby timer is reinitialized and begins counting down from its specified delay times to zero. If the standby timer reaches zero before any drive activity is required, the drive makes a transition to standby mode. In both Idle and standby mode, the drive accepts all commands and returns to active mode when disk access is necessary

 

[Dagoth-ur]

"I checked under the lid and the disks seemed immaculate"

You opened the case and visually inspected the silver platters?

Well, if it wasn't dead before (it probably was), it soon will be.
And that absolutely killed any possibility of a return/refund.

Just an update. The internals still work fine after much testing, no collision, no heat up, no debris. The initial fault persisted. The seller has sent a replacement HDD.

 

[Dagoth-ur]

my first assumption would be a the docking station issue.
I would first start cmd.exe as an admin, then run
powercfg.exe /energy and take a look at the report.

I would go into windows control panel find the option to set the system into high performance mode, reboot and retest. (work around for various low link power state bugs)

then I would look for a firmware update to the docking station.
(I would be looking for a hub that does not understand the new low power states, fix would be firmware update or driver update)

workaround would be to go into windows control panel device manager, find the device, right mouse click to bring up properties, find the power management tab, then unclick checkbox.

still could be the drive or data cable connection/cable. Not clear.

note; you can tell if a HDD drive is actually spinning if you move it while it is powered on. The disks rotation will act as a gyroscope and resist the movement of the drive. You can feel this
note: in the old days I guess I would also look for write protect jumpers on the drive.

note 2: looks like these drives have their own standby timer. IE if it does not detect activity and the timer goes off the drive will park the heads and tell the disk motor to stop rotating. (this would be independent of the windows power setting)

docs:
idle and standby timers:
Each time the drive performs an active function (read, write or seek), the standby timer is reinitialized and begins counting down from its specified delay times to zero. If the standby timer reaches zero before any drive activity is required, the drive makes a transition to standby mode. In both Idle and standby mode, the drive accepts all commands and returns to active mode when disk access is necessary

Hi Johnbl, thank you for taking the time write up all these suggestions, I do appreciate it. Some others here weren't helpful at all as they felt I'd compromised the internals (after some rigorous testing, the internals are fine). The seller actually sent out another, but I'm going to try the suggestions you recommended and see if I can isolate the issue, if at least to be better clued up should this issue appear next time. Thanks again.

 

[CountMike]

Hi Johnbl, thank you for taking the time write up all these suggestions, I do appreciate it. Some others here weren't helpful at all as they felt I'd compromised the internals (after some rigorous testing, the internals are fine). The seller actually sent out another, but I'm going to try the suggestions you recommended and see if I can isolate the issue, if at least to be better clued up should this issue appear next time. Thanks again.

The "internals" may work fine mechanically but heads may be burned or disconnected or disk surface damage in place that it keeps data for initializing.